Puppetry – mastery in movement, form and narrative

Watching ‘My Neighbour Totoro‘ at the Gillian Lynne Theatre last night, I found myself deeply moved—not only by the magic of Studio Ghibli brought to life, but by the astonishing, intricate craft of puppetry itself.

Puppetry inhabits a liminal space within the arts.

It’s not pure theatre; it’s not pure sculpture. Puppetry is a fusion of imagination, engineering, and intimate human skill.

The puppeteers of ‘Totoro’ did not merely animate objects – they breathed life into them, revealing an artistry that lies quiet, often overlooked, in the shadows.

Credit: My Neighbour Totoro

Puppetry has always resonated with me, particularly through the influence of Little Angel Theatre in Islington. Created in 1961 by John and Lyndie Wright, Little Angel is the heart of puppetry in London. It educates and entertains, and for me and many others, it introduces children to the magical world of puppets.

I was enraptured by productions such as  ‘A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings’ at Little Angel, Katie Mitchell’s compelling ‘Hansel and Gretel’ at the National Theatre, and of course War Horse.

Mysterious and compelling, the puppeteer is expert in making, in movement and in narrative.

Credit: “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”

Sarah Wright has continued her family tradition with the Curious School of Puppetry in Dalston.

On a recent visit with a friend, I found myself immersed in a slightly surreal, eccentric but enchanting afternoon filled with warmth, conversation, and tea. My tea companions were Gerard Schiphorst and Marije van der Sande, from Tam-Tam – generous and extraordinary.

Credit: Circus x Oliver Smart

Circus has been a long term admirer of Oliver Smart.

Through puppetry, Oli brings together scientific analysis with artistic sensibility.

Be it a sock as a chicken, or a detailed study of a dragonfly, we are invited to participate with our imaginations. Just as I did last night, transported to the forest and to the hospital on a cat bus.

In an age of digital spectacle, puppetry offers something profoundly real, tactile, and deeply human.

For Circus, it’s a reminder that true mastery often lies in the quiet spaces of craft, patience, and specialist expertise.

If you can get tickets, do see My Neighbour Totoro and see our work with Oliver here.

Written by Aldo Maland

May 2025